Juice Plus

I think the further we get into technology and short cuts and what not, the more we move away from the basics which causes us to move further and further away from our health.

We take diet pills to get skinny

We mass produce foods and use chemicals to make them bigger

We created fast food restaurants because we have become too lazy to cook

in turn

Our medical bills are larger

Cancer is more prevalent

Quality of life and health, sub par

Bode and I have always been huge proponents of eating from the earth and natural and fresh food.  But we have found that while on the road and living on a boat in Southern California, we too are forced to eat out and not as healthy as we normally would.  When we are in New Hampshire, it's so much easier considering Bode has his organic farm and there isn't a restaurant anywhere near home.

So in an effort to continue living our healthy life style, we found Juice Plus.

I can't even begin to tell you how amazed I have been by the positive reactions our bodies and our friends and family's bodies have taken to Juice Plus.

More Energy

Better Digestion

More Sound Sleep

Healthier Skin

(I feel like an infomercial right now)

But I am not even kidding

Even though we think we are eating healthy and getting all of our vitamins from the fruits and veggies we buy in the grocery store, we're not.

Nothing is ever vine ripened that we purchase in the stores which results in a large amount of nutrients being eliminated from our food.

Not to mention the amount of nutrients we lose when we cook our food as well!

Anyways, (just so everyone has an idea what's in these pills) Juice Plus vine ripens all of their fruits, vegetables and berries.  Once everything has fully ripened, the entire fruit is turned into a juice and then placed into a 105 degree oven to slowly dehydrate.  This temperature is ideal because it eliminates the sugars, salt and gluten all while maintaining the integrity of the vitamins and enzymes that our bodies need for a raw diet.

It's straight, organic produce via a couple pills.

Plus, it's the only pill that has a nutrition label instead of a supplement label.

It's the new daily vitamin.  The new prenatal vitamin.

It's pretty much the key to health while living in such an unhealthy society.

One of the coolest facts that I have been most impressed by is that the pill doesn't need to be digested, it goes straight into our blood stream, so it has been super beneficial for people with Crohn's disease.

I really encourage everyone to try it and read up on it.

I'm literally in love.

And, I can't believe we are doing this and we have been getting some pretty funny phone calls, but to learn more, you need to call Bode.

I'll have my sticks ready to beat off those crazy women

+1 (508) 565 8270
You can also order using the link to my personal Juice Plus page on the right of your screen.

Bode and I made it back safe and sound.

Even though this trip was for work, we had so much fun just getting away.

A majority of the time I was in bed.  

This process has been not only emotionally draining but physically draining and terrifying as well.  I convinced myself I was dying a few times.

In my mind I just kept thinking, "there is NO WAY this process is normal."

Well, guess what.....it is.

One of the few nights we were there, Bode and I felt it was necessary to continue to live life.

To have some fun.

To make each other smile.

So, after much encouraging on Bode's part, he managed to drag me down to a little restaurant called "The Velvet room."

THE ENTIRE ROOM WAS VELVET!

Dark red, crushed velvet.

We opened some wine and laughed and ate some absolutely terrible food.

We then thought going to a bar for some drinks to just unwind would be an evening well spent.  So off we went, down the streets of Kitzbühel over to some little hole in the wall bar.  Bode even opted to take the challenge of teaching me how to play pool.

WE HAD SO MUCH FUN!

We laughed, we drank (probably a little too much), we danced all over the bar (and by danced I mean shook our bodies to the beat of the song that played previously to the one we were actually dancing to), we attempted to play pool against some locals who were grateful to be done due to my unsportsmanlike behavior.  I thought shimmying behind the hole they were aiming for would help their focus.  And the best part was that Bode and I were the only two in the bar for a majority of the night.  I think we scared everyone else away.

Needless to say, we spent the next day in bed reminiscing of a fantastic night and laughing.

It was so great to just distract ourselves from the sadness we have been feeling.

Even though I still sob at the sight or sound of a baby, I just remind myself that life and happiness is still very much in my blood and my heart.  My spirit is not broken.  Plus, I have my best friend with me every day.

Just some more reassurance that we are okay.

Also,

THANK YOU

THANK YOU

THANK YOU

to everyone who has been there to keep picking us back up.

We are so lucky for the people who have been so kind and shared their wisdom and love.

Just Getting Back Up

Writing....

it clears my mind

it soothes my soul

and I feel it's so important to connect with people who may have or may be going through similar things.

I wish I had been more involved and more persistent with my postings.  Writing brings me to a happier place.

So as most people know, the last few months have been ummmmmm, how do I put this?

INSANE!

Exciting, but totally just "fly by the seat of my pants" insane.

It all started when.....

I met the love of my life (I didn't know it at first)

and...

We got engaged

We got married

We got pregnant

We bought a house

We moved onto a boat

and have been traveling non stop

along with a lot of other things that are not so fabulous and quite frankly, they break my heart.

But we have learned that life is no joke and sometimes it really hurts.  

The promises and commitments we made (through good and bad and all that other jazz) have been tested.

Like seriously tested.

We have screamed at each other

We have ignored each other

We have even thrown food and called each other names. 

But what makes all these horrible times seem so insignificant, is that without fail, we rise to the occasion.  And the bigger the issue, the more we come together as a unit and the better we seem to handle the situation.

It's the who's going to clean the cat box? or which football game are we going to watch? that really sends us into the craziest and most pointless arguments which we usually end up laughing about anyways.

But what brings me to this post is one of the most difficult things Bode and I have faced together.

11 weeks and a couple days into all the excitement and pure joy of building our new little family, we lost our baby.

I don't even know how to express the initial feeling of not seeing a heartbeat on the monitor other than total panic, helplessness and the hope that the guy doing the ultrasound was actually the security guard from the front desk.

I begged him to check again, and again, and again.

All we could do was place our hands on my belly and tell our little one that we love him and we are so sorry and then we said goodbye.

I would do almost anything to change that day just to see life in what I've come to love and call "my little peanut." 

But I know and have always believed that everything happens for a reason. 

Right now it may seem like total cruelty and torture and it makes me want to stomp my feet on the ground and cry and think that life is so unfair, but I know we will have a beautiful family one day.  I know that this was yet, another test.  And I also know that we are going to be okay.

One last thing....I'm asking for help.

I've mentioned how therapeutic writing has been for me but I struggle to find the motivation and creativity to write.  So please...

ask questions

throw out topics

I look forward to connecting

Bode and I ended our retreat at Grace Grove on our 2 months wedding anniversary.  It couldn't have been more perfect.  We left happy and rejuvenated and even closer than before.  It was one of the most spectacular trips I have ever been on and one of the most beneficial leaps of faith I've taken.  I'm excited for the future and not at all nervous for the hurdles Bode and I have coming up.  I now have the tools to deal with them with grace and love and be able to show compassion.  

I learned that a majority of the baggage that I carried wasn't mine and I've come to love and understand who I am....every single part of my crazy little self along with all the crazy decisions I've ever made.  I learned that our plan isn't always THE plan and that adjustment and going with the flow when life throws you major curve balls is absolutely necessary.  I've also learned that the cure to every problem, even if it's not what we want to do, is UNCONDITIONAL LOVE (as hippy dippy as that sounds it's so true)  I encourage everyone to do some research on this place and maybe, if you have the time, try it.  It's impossible to leave without benefitting.

I am so absolutely excited to be heading home tomorrow.  I do miss stability and familiar places.  I am looking forward to cleaning out the boat and getting it listed so we can move into our dream home!

Today is the first physically AND mentally challenging day to be here.
The rest of the days were just mentally challenging.
I am growing and learning and facing things I never wanted to face....

....but now i'm hungry.....

really really hungry and all I can think about is a big fat cheese burger from In N Out

My butt is a little sore from sitting nonstop and I just have the urge to sleep all the time.  

But sleep during the day means no sleep at night, which I experienced last night.

The hunger and deprivation of sleep is resulting in me being a little bit resistant and a tad bit irritable.

Now on the positive side, yesterday, Bode and I got to work on our relationship.  

Learn to become more of a team.  

Learn what it meant to give unconditional love instead of conditional love.  

As much as I hate to admit it, I was much more of the conditional love kinda person whereas no matter what shit storm Bode and I had just gone through, he still loved me just as much as he did before.....AND HE SHOWED IT!  

We worked through little things that rubbed us the wrong way and figured out what triggered each other.

We gained new tools on how to approach certain situations and how to appreciate and love better than we already do.

But here's what made me the happiest....when Anahata (the leader of this meeting) showed us what it meant to be in a conscious and healthy relationship and bullet pointed the necessary qualities to succeed, Bode and I were almost right on with every bullet point.

Later in the evening, we had a chocolate ceremony.  I was so excited to get to eat chocolate that I raced out and sat down and waited to receive a little piece of goodness.  Well, guess what, it was a raw cacao nut with a little bit of vanilla bean and chili's brewed together into a tea. 

Not what I was expecting.

But it's what kicked off our "Dance of Liveration"

After our "chocolate ceremony," everyone picked a card from the display in front of us.  Each card held a word and an image.  With that word we could apply it to what we wanted or needed from the spirits or we could come up with our own prayer.  Everyone was then blindfolded and lights turned low.  Music began to play and our job as the pioneer's of our own journey was to dance, without judgement, and create the physical expression of our prayer.  I couldn't stop laughing because I just kept thinking of how Bode would be dancing.

Little fairy wings and spinning all over the place is the image I played in my head for his chosen style of dance.

At first, it all seemed so silly....until I picked my card.  It was dead on.

FORGIVENESS

in big bold letters across the top of my card.

Holy (*&^R%()*^&)(**(*&%$!!&&(*!!!!!!!!!

It couldn't have been more perfect.  

I didn't connect to the dance as much as some of the others, but when we gathered again at the end to share our individual experiences, it was spooky how everyone's cards directly connected to the journey they were trying to lead.

Bode's card read

SACRED UNION

which then showed two trees with separate roots joining into one trunk and all branches intertwining.

It was incredible to see how this connection between prayer and dance blasted some of our Grace Grove family into a new place.

Places of hope.

Places of understanding.

Places of pure joy and healing.

There is something very special about this place.

No makeup.  Sweats. Wet hair.

This has been my kind of place.  I have slowly come into my own at Grace Grove and have tried to experience each lesson coming in as raw as I can.  

Let me tell you something, being raw sucks.  

It's hard. 

I cry. 

I'm scared. 

I have to face so many internal and emotional issues that I have tried to push away for years.  

But it's empowering.

And it's real.

So now it's day two and I feel some clarity.

I'm hungry, that's no doubt, but I feel lighter (emotionally)

or because part of this journey includes multiple colonics.

TMI, I know.

But I've left baggage at doors and I've gotten perspective.

I feel braver and happier.....

Like truly happy.  It's no longer a choice.  It just is.

And I am so incredibly grateful to get to go through this experience with Bode.

Life right now, is beautiful.

I'm sitting on a plane tens of thousands of feet up in the air.  

That's one thing in my life that hasn't changed.  I still frequent airports more often than I do my own bed.  

I left Beaver Creek this morning around 4:30 am and headed down to Denver to catch my flight to Phoenix.  It was so hard to peel my husbands arms from around my body and scoot out of the warm bed.  I didn't think I had that much will power.  Needless to say, regretfully, I am sitting on this plane headed to Phoenix instead of enjoying the rest of the festivities in Beaver Creek.

Not to mention I am a little bit sad because I will be away from Bode for 30 hours!

30 HOURS!

It's pretty much the longest we've been apart in months.

Shit, 3 hours is pretty much the longest we've been apart.

Pathetic, I know.  But i'm already so excited to see him tomorrow.  I've been plotting in my head how I will successfully jump into his arms tomorrow without knocking him over.  So far i've failed with every mental game plan of keeping him in an upright position.

(get your mind out of the gutter)

So why is it so important that I leave early?

Bode and I have decided to do a health and wellness retreat down in Sedona, AZ.  It's called Grace Grove.  Some friends raved about their experience and said it was life changing.  Not only physically, but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.  Quite honestly, I'm terrified.  I already feel way too vulnerable just being on this plane.  It's like i'm one step closer to fully committing to bearing my soul to people I have never met with the hopes of…….I don't even know.

So again, here's to new life experiences and throwing my arms up in the air with a "here goes nothing" attitude.

Grace Grove, show me what you've got.

Oh yeah, and Happy December!

We just got our plane tickets to head back to New Hampshire for Christmas.  This is going to be Bode's first Christmas with his family in 15 years.  We even got lucky enough to bring Dace back with us!  

Yeeeeee!!! I'm so excited!

A real white Christmas with my new little family.

….minus the real tree…

Believe me, I put up quite a fight but Bode insisted on a fake tree.

A fake tree is definitely not my first choice.  One of my favorite parts of Christmas is traveling to the tree lot together to pick out that perfect tree and setting it up in your house with the fresh smell of pine permeating the air.  It just seems more christmasy to me.

And what I've learned from previously posting about this little difference in opinion via twitter was that 99.9% of the women will side with Bode and 99.9% of the men will side with me.  The only difference is that the women get mean and angry.

So women, leave all your Bah Humbug comments off my blog. And for those men who want to act like women and leave a Bah Humbug comment, please refrain as well.

It's Christmas dammit

…..unless the world ends on the 22nd, of course……

I'm Nervous

I don't know if I am going to get in trouble for saying this, but I am so excited for Hurricane Sandy.

Like nervous excitement.

I know it will probably devastate many people, maybe even myself, but there is just something so incredibly awesome about Mother Nature kicking ass (until it kicks your ass, i'm sure).

Driving home this morning after squeezing in 9 holes of golf, leaves were beginning to bounce across the completely abandoned roads and it made my tummy do flip flops.  Now i'm sitting on the sofa and watching the trees bounce around and sway in the wind and the leaves on our potted plants are beginning to vibrate quicker and quicker.

The skies look angry too which is making the hairs on my arms stand up.

In California, our storms are comparatively mild from what all these New Hampshire folks are saying about Sandy which is only building my excitement.

I can't wait to hunker down and watch this show take place.  It's almost like a firework finale but for hours on end.

The California kid in me (which normally just prepared for rainy days) is saying,

"I can't wait to play board games and drink hot chocolate and watch mooooooviesss and cuddle with my kitty."

But the naive adult part of me is saying,

"Oh Sh*t Morgan, get ready to flip on your survival mode.  You might have to save the world tonight."

And the competitive athlete in me is saying,

"BRING IT ON!"

even though I know I don't stand a chance and also knowing that Mother Nature is not to be tempted because if challenged, she usually brings it extra hard.

But nonetheless, I hope everyone stays safe.

I Think I Could Get A Little More Sappy

I feel like every morning I wake up to new adventures and exciting events and before I even get a chance to sit down at my computer to write down all my thoughts and experiences, I am getting pulled out the door and into the day.  I am certainly not complaining but I do wish I was more diligent about my postings.  It's so fun for me to reflect and share this real life movie I'm living.

Sölden, Austria might be one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited.  I look back on the trip and all I can imagine is some overly dramatized love story.  Probably because I am a newlywed and I seem to romanticize every event but it went something like this......

I willingly fell victim to the speed and grace of our Audi as it sped through the snaking roads that cut through the mountain sides of Austria.  For miles, all I could see were waterfalls cascading down the violent cliffs into the vast openness of lush green fields.  Cows and goats casually grazed as soft white smoke gently rolled out of the chimneys of the modest wood homes.  Driving through what seemed to be a postcard, my attention was still fixed to the power underneath me.  To the aggression, the thrill and the man driving it all. Soft blue eyes hidden behind chiseled features and the shadow of week old scruff.  With hands wrapped around the wheel, he lead the adventure; he created the excitement.  He tamed the wild roads as though a knight would a dragon, with ease and precision. 

Yeah....that's exactly how I remember it.

Other than that daily occurrence, Bode taught me how to ski again which was so fun! We got to play some indoor volleyball with the rest of the ski team and we ate as much wiener schnitzel as we could get our hands on.

I'm sad we had to leave but I am so happy to be home.

Photos via

I Could Be Totally Wrong

And I most likely am....

But I started using this product called Cocoa Via.  They sent Bode this giant box of these packs that provide you with cocoa flavanols which are supposed to make you happy and healthy?

Well guess what?

I'm so flippin happy and my body feels amazing.

I have more energy and everything just seems to be working better.

But the true reason that I really like it, is that I have been losing weight ever since I started using it.  I don't know if it's because my insides are just working better or if the tangy goodness which makes me happy melts the extra lbs off.......

or it could just be that my volleyball season ended and my muscle is rapidly diminishing......

Hmmmmm, nope, I'm still giving the credit to the Cocoa Via....

But my point is, 

I LOVE IT

Especially for breakfast or dessert.  I mix it with some nonfat greek yogurt and load it with berries and it's the most satisfying treat ever!  They also have a chocolate flavor which I haven't tried yet.  I can't seem to think of a good way to use it.  Plus it makes me nervous that after tasting the chocolate, it's going to make me crave more chocolate.
I kind of want other people to try it and let me know if they get the same results.
Until then, I'm going to enjoy getting skinny!

Morgan Miller

I am kind of obsessed with my new name.....narcissistic? Definitely.

Morgan Miller

It has a nice ring to it.

Simple. Sophisticated.

....and it reminds me of Marisa Miller....

no relation

(for those of you who can't follow bad humor or don't know me, that's a joke)

I know my posts are all out of sorts and in no particular order but sometimes I just get so caught up in life that I forget about some little events that happen.

Liiiiikkkeeeee I got married almost two weeks ago!

It was perfect.

Everything about it.

Simple, quiet, beautiful.

I didn't have to go around and talk to all our guests (we didn't have any)

Our food was delicious and not the standard steak or chicken.

Our wedding cake was homemade by me and my bestest Camilla (it turned out tasting more like dry cornbread. I loved it!)

Our officiant almost died on our watch in the middle of the ring part of the ceremony and followed it up with a letter a few days later which included

1. A request of a tour of the boat

2. Apologizing for the "intrusion" with his almost sudden heart attack

3. Informing us he was a bee keeper

4. Asking if he left his glasses

(in that order)

But nonetheless, he was fantastic.

My adorable husband even made me my bridal bouquet.

After we ate and took pictures, we then curled up on the sofa to watch Sunday football and fell asleep by 9.

It was the most perfect wedding day ever!

No fuss, lots of love and no stress.

Hello From Sölden, Austria

I just spent 5 minutes on the internet learning how to do an umlaut over my O.

I care that much.

SMH

Bode, Harper and I arrived in Munich, Germany two days ago.  The trip, per usual, was full of snafus.  I am starting to feel that if we don't encounter multiple issues, then something is really wrong.

But with good must come bad so I view it's opposition as our standard.....with bad, must come good.

And did GOOD come!!!

I mean not just good, 

GREAT! 

EXCELLENT!

or as the Europeans would say...

SUPER! (pronounced SOUP-AIR)

Audi gave us the most beautiful S6 Wagon which is perfect for...

1. Our 6 giant bags

2. The windy roads through all these mountains

3. The autobahn with NO SPEED LIMIT!!!! (And having a racer as a husband, he clearly has a need for speed)

After two hours of breaking in our new whip, we arrived at our accomodations in Sölden, Austria (notice the umlaut).  

Das Central was so welcoming.  We walked into our gorgeous room which had champagne and strawberries displayed on the table and an adorable card congratulating us on our marriage.  They even set up a bed with a water dish for little miss Harper.  She is so spoiled!

I can't wait to do a little more exploring.

Stay tuned for stories and pictures of our adventures!

I completely forgot to do a little recap on the end of my season.

Huntington was crap so I didn't want to write anything about it.  I was sad and upset and it was such a horrible way to end my season.  

Luckily, I got a second chance to finish my play in 2012 on a high note in an even better tournament.

This past weekend, I got to play with Summer Ross in the NORCECA in Chula Vista.

No one should be fooled by this 6 foot 3 inch, 19 year old girl's 102 lb frame.  

She is unreal! 

Like unassumingly bad ass at this sport and she is so much fun to play with!  

All three days of playing with her were fun and we laughed and we kicked some serious booty.

After only practicing once together, we beat Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, USA 2, Canada and then lost in the finals to USA 1.

Obviously making it to finals and losing sucks but it was a blast.

With a silver in my pocket, I can close out this season with a huge smile on my face and some new found excitement to begin my 2013 season!

October Already?

Where has this year gone?

I'm still in shock 2012 is coming to a close considering it's sunny and we are still enduring the unwavering heat.

(side note: i'm sitting here listening to baby potatoes on Cartoon Network sing "small potatoes" over and over and over and over again.  It's a catchy tune so I know it's going to be stuck in my head later today while i'm grocery shopping.)

Anyways, this next month is going to be amazing!

I have so many things to look forward to...

1. My parents are coming out for my good friend's wedding and are coming to see the boat for the first time.

2. My dad's 71st birthday

3. Bode's 35th birthday

4. Beginning to travel for Bode's season

5. The beginning of my offseason

6. Spice lattes from Starbucks

7. Uggs and leggings

8. Camilla and Damir are coming down. 

9. Pumpkin carving

10. AND... I'M GETTING MARRIED!

It's going to be a pretty eventful month!

Minor Detail

Clearly I forgot a minor detail.

I'M GETTING MARRIED!!!

I know a lot of people are either holding their breath or rolling their eyes but you know what?

I don't care

I'm so happy.

I already found my dress and it's beyond perfect and we already set a date.

The best part is that my family is totally supportive and excited which was unexpected but a great surprise.

Not to mention, I'm marrying into a pretty awesome family.  I get butterflies knowing that I get to marry this man I am so in love with but I get really excited knowing I get to be a part of his family.  

THEY ARE SO FUN!

(now i'm sure the eye rolling has increased)

But in true Bode form, the proposal was

1. unexpected

2. funny

3. unconventional

The "BIG QUESTION" came in a series of smaller questions and extended periods of silence.

Laying in bed, pitch black, 1 am......

......It went something like this....

Bode: I want YOU to ask ME to marry you

Morgan: Not going to happen sweetheart.  Goodnight

.....5 minutes later....

Bode: Should I turn on the lights to ask you?

Morgan: (laughing) You do whatever you want.

.....5 minutes later....

Bode: Will you?

Morgan: Will I what?

Bode: Marry me?

Morgan: (still laughing) Of course

.....5 minutes later.....

Bode: Sooooo should I put the ring on your finger?

He's so cute :)

Obviously there is a lot more to the story but that is the short version.  Everything about it was perfect.

(I love this picture of him)

It's been 9 days since Bode left for Portillo, Chile

It's the longest we've been apart

I don't like it one bit

But I get to pick him up tomorrow!!!!

A full 6 days early.

Oh, and I got my wedding dress today.

Went back to The White Dress in CDM for their sample sale and found the most gorgeous gown which I am going to alter and make short!  The best part is that I got it for a fraction of the original price.

Such a deal!

I'm feeling pretty successful at the moment.

Life On A Boat

The boat life is.....interesting.

It's growing on me.

The constant rocking, even when walking on dry land, took a little getting used to.

The room service to the boat from the Marriott, I adapted to quite well.

Waking up on the water, I LOVE.

And our unobstructed view of the sunset every night is like adding an exclamation point to the end of each day.

(girls love that crap)

Blasting my music and not having to worry about anyone hearing it is a total blessing, minus the fact that my walls are glass and everyone gets to point and laugh at my super white girl moves.

Having a captain's quarters as a "dog house" for Bode provides some laughs and some peace of mind.

The one thing I don't think I will ever get used to are the people who think it's totally okay to just come on the boat and start talking to you.  

I'm pretty sure I never walked into a stranger's family room to start a conversation and introduce myself.  

Especially when the opening comment usually falls along the lines of, 

"Oh, I haven't seen this boat here before. Is it new?"

.......Well sir, I'll give you one guess.

And I am willing to put money on your answer being correct........

I think a bell on the outside is going to be the next installation on this massive piece of floating metal.

Other than the lack of privacy, I guess it's not all that bad.

Hope everyone has an INCREDIBLE weekend!

I'm planning on it.

Things Are Not Quite Going According To Plan

Soooo we started the week coming off of a couple crappy losses in Santa Barbara

Normally I try to let previous weeks be history but I still had a bad taste in my mouth....that's probably why this week (all two days) has gotten off to a bit of a rocky start.

1. My darling kitty got fleas.  Lots of them. In my bed.  In my house.  On my clothes.  

YUM!

After a few baths and some flea treatment, my next step was to flea bomb my apartment.  So little miss Harper and I went to my aunt's house.  On the way home, she thought it would be funny to

2. Pee on my clean laundry that I did at my aunt's and poop in the back seat.  Cleaning that up was fun. And then, the next morning I began to pack for my move to San Diego.  I woke up to begin packing and 

3. Found little sesame seed type balls all in my bed and around the house.  I vacuumed it up and then picked up my kitty to check her for fleas only to notice a worm on her butt.  It turned out those "seeds" were dried up segments of tapeworms that had been coming out of her behind.  Obviously, I immediately took her to the vet and then raced home to pack.  I was out front in my yard staging everything to go into the moving van when the woman parked in front of my beautiful car

4. Backed into it and crunched the front because it was "a tight parking space." Then SHE TRIED TO DRIVE AWAY!

I couldn't decide if I wanted to laugh or cry at this point.  

I mean the peeing on the clean laundry....

....funny.  

I laughed

Pooping in the back seat.....

.....giggle.  

I saw it coming

Tapeworms.....

....eye roll

Hitting my car.....

.....OKAY! ENOUGH ALREADY! 

When is it going to stop?

Back to the story....

We exchanged information and I ran inside to shower for my two meetings in LA

5. NO WATER!

No kidding.

6. So now being late to both my meetings, I'm stretched a tiny bit thin.

Thankfully the day ends without any other issues. However, my Tuesday morning comes dark and early at

7. 1:30 a.m. I couldn't sleep.  I decided it would be perfect to finish up my packing so when the movers got here at 8 am, I would be ready to go.  7:30 rolls around and I get a message from Bode saying that 

8. The work on the boat wasn't finished so it won't be in San Diego for me to move my things onto today.  So now my move date has been pushed to tomorrow.  Here's the catch.....

9. I leave tomorrow for a volleyball tournament

I'm feeling like telling the universe to "Bring It On!" at this point but I think that's just asking for it.

Weeeeee!!!

I LOVE TUESDAYS!

My weekend in Santa Barbara was not the most successful couple of days.

We didn't play to the best of our abilities and wound up win-less.  Obviously, for me, it was a huge honor to be there and be the youngest of the top 12 teams, but still, I would like to think I could have done better.  I actually know I could have done better.

But on the bright side, the AVP is making a comeback!!!  This means I still have a job!!

HA!

But on another note, my moving date got pushed all the way to this Tuesday!

It's actually quite a funny story.

Hermosa Beach might be the best place in the world to live, but it's most definitely the worst place in the world to park.  So as I am standing out on the corner on Labor Day weekend looking like I'm looking for singles instead of a parking spot, I noticed a girl and her father are wandering around the streets looking at signs and what not.  I didn't think much of it until about 20 minutes later, standing in my house, peering through the window, I see them walk out of an apartment that has a for rent sign.  Without hesitation, I bolt out the door and sprint towards their car.  Reflecting back on my impulsive decision and seeing their faces as this giant girl came running at their car, waving her hands, I could only imagine the thoughts that raced through their heads.  My first instinct would be to save ourselves and plow her over with my car.  Thankfully, that wasn't me behind the wheel.

Anyways, long story short, I asked if they were looking for places to rent and I invited her and her father in to see my place to see if she was interested.  I wasn't surprised when she fell in love with my home just as I had.  She wanted to move in immediately! And because I am soooooooooo accommodating and nice and she wanted to be in by Thursday, I told her I could make it happen.

My first phone call went out to my mother in Chicago to update her on the events and two hours later she was on a plane out to California!  It's pretty safe to say my mom is the best.

Time to pack and get shakin'

It's moving time!